CARLTON coach Mick Malthouse has lashed out at Jarrad Waite's decision to leave the club, calling it "staggering".

Waite informed Carlton on Monday morning that he was leaving the club to exercise his free agency rights, but did not specify which club he would be joining.

AFL.com.au understands Waite is likely to join North Melbourne, which has been courting the Blues spearhead since meeting with him in July.

However, Malthouse has criticised the 31-year-old for failing to raise his decision in a private meeting at Malthouse's home. 

"I'm disappointed," Malthouse told 5AA. "He came around to my place last Friday and wanted to know where he sat, which I explained to him about the game and how we've looked after him body-wise.

"We shook hands and everything was hunky-dory and then a week later he was gone. I wish he had told me then.

"I've got no desire to facilitate talking to players in my home when their desire is to leave."

Malthouse was also confounded by Waite's delay in telling the club he was leaving.

"Jarrad chose to wait until yesterday when we finished [the season] a month ago ... I find it staggering," Malthouse said. 

Malthouse also echoed the criticisms of Brisbane Lions CEO Greg Swann, who earlier on Tuesday said Melbourne didn't deserve pick No.3 if it loses free agent James Frawley to a rival club. 

"Why should we at Carlton and any other club pay a penalty because Melbourne have lost Frawley?" Malthouse said.

"Why should I be penalised a spot in the draft because Frawley leaves and goes to Geelong or Hawthorn and Melbourne reaps the penalties of another draft pick?

"Free agency should be free, not come with some other candy stuck to it."

The Blues have already put Jeff Garlett and Mitch Robinson on the trade table, with the Brisbane Lions reportedly keen on Robinson.